The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-07-17
WALTER SCOTS HOME.
The Beauties of the Locality-Points Made
Classic by the Wizard of the North.

Prof e. e. Griffith in FRANKFORT tInd.) Crescent.
MELRosE, Scotland, June 81 1S8L-In my
present letter I shall forego any account of
castles, universities and cathedrals, however in
teresting their description may be- Ishall con-
fine myself to few words about Walter Scott
and some of the scenes he has made immortal.
This was SCOTS old home quaint old town of
1900 people, winding streets. ancient buildings,
q quiet population. Melrose is not in itself re-
markable, but as the home of that wizard of
the North" it attracts thousands of visitors
yearly. Three miles to the west of Melrose on
the beautiful Tweed and surrounded by all that
nature and art can make lovely, is Abbottsford,
that romance in stone and lime"
erected to Scott's own taste. The
surrounding wall with its look-outs,
the mansion itself, mounted with turrets, the
courts. the drives and walks. show how deeply
SCOTS mind was imbued with love Of ancient
chivalry. He strives to reproduce its architect
ure Carvings on ceilings and statuary are i'm
itations of those in the ancient abbey
The rare and extensive collection of relics
also testify his regard for tradition. Here sur
rounded by scores of firearms. is the gun Of
Rob Roy There the keys to the dungeon
of Lochleven castle. in which Mary was con-
fined. Here is Queen Mary's purse In the
corner of this museum stands the chest in
which Genevra found untimely tomb. To
this collection are added the contributions of
sovereigns and peasants. implements Of war
fare and torture. which have figure in noted
times and places. are in striking contrast to
tools OF agriculture. In small glass case in
perfect state of preservation, is the suit of
clothes which the bard wore. His pen and ink
horn, pipes. capes. tobacco cases. may also be
seen. The palace is luxuriously designed and
furnished with extravaganza of an ideal
ist It was this exrravagance. coupled
with his unfortunate partnership with
the Ballentnes which led to his finan-
eli al IN Nothing
poets manly resolve in surrendering his beauti-
full home and shouldering responsibility which
toll in paying off the debt incurred by others,
and just as his task was about completed, he was
brought here. in an exhausted and dying con-
dtion, to spend his last few days. A. few miles
to the east of Melrose. on the banks OF the
Tweed. in the magnificent old ruin of Dryburg
Abbey. is Scott's final resting place. The old
walls are covered with ivy, and the most beau
tiful flowers grow about his tomb To show how
deeply the Scotch people revere the name of
Scott. may say that IN no town or city I have
yet visited have failed to see busts and pictures
of the poet. prominently displayed. In Glasgow
and Edinburgh are monuments to the poet the
latter. especially imposing 1t was not necessary
for Scott to read Percy's Relques to be impressed
by the traditions of his country. Every castle
and cathedral has its history of bioodshed or
Imprisonment its list of buried dign itaries, it's
record of attacks and resistances Every lake
and glen and mountain has been the
scene of stirring events. We do not
look this scenery much
of earth, bnt in the light OF history. Beau
tiful in itself. an additional charm comes from
associations. It was the legends connected with
these highland objects that inspired the genius
of Scott Going by train from Glasgow to Bal
lock. you find yourself on the shore of Loeb Lo-
mond. It's waters. clear as crystal. spread
out far beyond you Scores of little islands,
covered with yellow flowers, some of them con-
tanning ancient ruins. are scattered here and
there sometimes separated from the mainland
by narrow channels. A fine road-all the high
ways of Scotland are In excellent condition-in-
closed by well-trimmed hedges, circles the lake.
A few private residences are on the shore ut the
foot of mountains but the natural beauty Of the
place has been sedulously guarded. modest
little chapel, half screened by blooming rhodo-